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Edited by the authors of Recipes.it, this blog is about the love of being in the kitchen by giving advice on state-of-the-art cooking tools, kitchen gadgets, gourmet delicacies, cookbooks reviews and lots of free recipes, too!

Monday, June 30, 2008

Emiliana Honey Vinegar Dressing on Sale! For our Honey Dressing of “Condimento”, honey is collected in its pure form, cooked and acidified, refined and aged in prized oak barrels using the “Solera” method. The result is a dressing with a fruity aroma and delicate taste, without the addition of preservatives or additives.

The uses of our Honey Dressing are as limitless as your culinary imagination. It is wonderful on salads, vegetables and in ‘agrodolce” or sweet and sour type sauces.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

The Mushikamado Ceramic Grill.Inspired by the mushikamado, the ancient Japanese clay rice cooker invented 2,000 years ago to steam grains over an open fire, this is the ceramic kamado grill that retains more heat and provides greater control of temperature than typical grills. Unlike metal grills that allow heat to escape through the walls, the kamado's ceramic construction promotes radiant cooking; heat emanates from the firebox, hits the ceramic walls, and reflects back to the center of the grill, ensuring efficient use of fuel and less time waiting for steaks to cook. The 1"-thick walls create a thermos-like effect that maintains internal temperatures up to 750° F, yet keep the exterior cool to the touch. Opening the damper on the lid and the vent on the bottom of the grill increases the flow of air through the cooking vessel and raises the internal temperature (ideal for searing steaks), while constricting them lowers the internal heat to extend the life of briquettes, hardwood charcoal, or woodchips-optimal for slow cooked barbecue. The 19 1/2"-Diam. grill grate accommodates up to 12 N.Y. strip steaks or a whole turkey, and is made from 304 stainless steel that provides more durability than porcelain-coated grates. Two folding side shelves are made from naturally antimicrobial bamboo and provide 230" sq. each for food preparation or utensil storage. Spring-loaded hinges on the lid promote gentle closing of the grill, and the temperature gauge on the exterior provides precise readings. Wheeled legs ensure ease of mobility. 48" H x 24" W x 24" D. (160 lbs.)

Saturday, June 28, 2008

If you find hamburgers are more a staple of your diet than an occasional treat, it's time to beef up the nutritional value of those burgers. Joyce McDowell from The Ohio State University Extension offers three creative and tasty ways to do just that.

1. Buy the leanest beef you can find.Some stores sell 95 percent lean ground beef, which can considerably lower the amount of calories and fat in the final burger. For example, a 3.5-ounce burger made from 80 percent lean ground beef has 270 calories, with 160 calories from fat. But when that same size burger is made with 97 percent lean ground beef, it contains just 170 calories, with 63 calories from fat.

When using very lean beef for your burgers:

* Cook the meat slowly at lower temperatures to keep it from drying out too much. * Be sure the inner part of the burger reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent food-borne illnesses, such as E. coli. * Experiment with adding egg white and breadcrumbs to the lean ground beef to better help the burger hold together on the grill. These seasonings also add flavor.

2. Watch your portion sizes.You may be surprised to learn that women only need 5.5 ounces from the meat and bean group daily, while men need just 6.5 ounces. It's easy to eat twice that with a single burger. Begin by making a burger as you typically do and weigh it. If you just have to have a big burger, then skip meat the rest of the day.

3. Pile on healthful toppings.Dress up that naked burger, but choose condiments that are low in fat and sugar. Skip the cheese or use a non-fat cheese. Then top your burger with lettuce or romaine and a thick slice of tomato. Be sure to choose a bun made with whole-grains.--From the Editors at Netscape

The Gourmand's Natural 24-Inch Hardwood GrillDescribed by the late James Beard as "brilliantly thought out and well-constructed," this is the natural hardwood grill with a cooking surface that can be raised or lowered 16", allowing you to begin cooking as soon as the fire is lit. Favored by Chef Beard at his summer cooking school, the grill's design is inspired by traditional grilling devices of southwest France and Turkey, as well as the grills used to prepare asado--the renowned barbecue of Argentina. A simple turn of the flywheel allows you to adjust the height of the cooking surface as the flames rise and fall, providing more control of cooking heat than gas grills. Its patented construction funnels air flow through the front of the unit and across the fire until it reaches the concave heat reflector that directs optimal heat to the grill's surface. This unique design creates high temperatures at the back of the grill (ideal for searing steaks), medium heat at the center, and low heat at the front (for gently cooking food). The grill is handmade from brushed 304-grade stainless steel (parts range from 9 to 14 gauge), and the grates and ash pans remove easily and fit in a dishwasher. A rotisserie spit allows you to cook whole game hens or chickens, wheeled legs provide mobility, and the grill requires only a minimal, 15 minute assembly. Intended for use with hardwood, the grill also accommodates charcoal. Made in the U.S. 39" H x 24" W x 19" D. (180 lbs.)

Friday, June 27, 2008

The 5 F Liquor Chiller.This cooler keeps up to 750 ML of your favorite top-shelf libation chilled down to 5 F and dispenses at the touch of a lever, allowing you to make "straight up" cocktails without requiring a shaker or ice cubes that can water-down perfectly proportioned drinks. Made from durable stainless steel, the cooler has a thermoelectric cooling unit that ensures cold drinks in ambient temperatures up to 85 F. Smaller than a toaster oven, the unit sets up unobtrusively on a bar or countertop and it has three inserts that interchange to secure bottles of all sizes. Housing wipes clean; reservoir rinses with water. For optimal results, use pre-chilled liquor or allow room temperature liquor to cool in the unit for at least four hours. Plugs into AC. 8 1/2" H x 12 1/4" W x 8 1/3" L. (8 lbs.)

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Each summer event, from barbeques to family gatherings to company picnics can be made even more special when delicious desserts from Cheryl&Co. are on hand! Plus, most gifts include FREE Ground Shipping & No Minimum Purchase Required.

The Best Ice Cream Maker.After rigorous testing by the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute, this ice cream maker proved to be the best because it churns creamy, soft, flavorful ice cream and allows you to make consecutive batches without stopping to refreeze the canister. Its specially designed paddle quickly whipped air into the ingredients for cookies 'n cream, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, resulting in velvety smooth, rich frozen desserts that were far superior to the dense, ice crystal-laden confection produced by lesser models. Panelists lauded the best ice cream maker for its "very flavorful and creamy" frozen custard that demonstrated a "texture and thickness that was the best", while other machines produced ice cream that was "gummy" with "little-to-no taste". Unlike other models that require the mixing bowl to be primed in the freezer for 24 hours, this one's internal freezing mechanism automatically chills the mixing canister to -4 F in minutes, eliminating extended preparation and allowing you to make 1 1/2 quarts of ice cream every 30 minutes. None of the other units recorded higher scores for features; the 25-watt motor crushes chocolate chips and cookies, and the unit comes with 55 recipes for ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, and more. Stainless steel housing and canister wipe clean. 11" H x 18" W x 12" L. (38 lbs.)

These nonstick aluminum frying pans are perfect for any chef. The oversized soft grip handles prevent you from getting burned when moving the pan on the stove, while the nonstick interior provides easy clean up.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Exquisite Spanish Olive Oil On Sale!Tagornar is an outstanding extra virgin olive oil whose sweet and fruity taste comes from the Arbequina and Verdiell olives that grow in the Mas del Senyor estate in the Northeast part of Spain.

This magnificent estate, although equiped with all the modern production methods was built in 1907 and is located at the bottom of the hill from which it derives its name. It is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, but arid soil which is often exposed to freezing winters and dry summers. This environment and climate are fundamental for obtaining this special and characteristic roduct.

Kir Royale Brunch JamThe classic French Kir Royal cocktail is always served in a fluted glass with fine champagne added to black currant liqueur, crème de cassis. Our version, Kir Royal Brunch Jam is full of tart flavor and Parisian flair!

Bellini Brunch JamOne of the favorite things we brought back from a trip to Venice was a love of the classic Bellini cocktail. The wonderful taste of white peaches mixed with prosecco, a sparkling white Italian wine, is refreshing and the flavor makes this jam a perfect choice for brunch or breakfast.

...but this is still one of our favorite!Raspberry Peach Champagne JamThe refreshing taste of summertime is perfectly captured in this unique jam.

Gourmet:

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